Community food bank operators have criticised a HK$100 million government food assistance plan for failing to offer immediate help to low-income groups and the unemployed who have been hit hard by inflation.
Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen said HK$100 million would be earmarked for the Social Welfare Department, which would work with non-governmental organisations to provide short-term food assistance to the needy.
The government would seek funds from the Legislative Council on Friday. NGOs would be invited in October to submit proposals on how to distribute the money.
Kong Wing-sze, service co-ordinator of the community Food Bank of Kwun Tong Methodist Social Service, said: 'The poor will all die of hunger before they receive free food bought with the government money. Why can't the government just give us the money now?'
St James' Settlement chief Michael Lai Kam-cheung also criticised the government's slowness.
'The administration should inject the money into the lottery fund and invite NGOs to apply, instead of asking us to submit proposals,' he said. 'Or, the government can get money from the lottery fund now and put money back into the fund after getting approval from Legco after the summer break.
